@kikay
When he mentioned it, I was just praying it wouldn’t be needed! I feel like a mastectomy is such a big procedure, especially with reconstruction so I have always thought about that as my last resort.
As far as radiation side effects, yes I’ve been struggling a little.
I had to have a sentinel node biopsy surgery (I had 2 types of cancer, the DCIS and also a very rare invasive metaplastic carcinoma) and I had a very hard time recovering from that SNB surgery. It was getting better but once I started radiation, those issues came back a bit.
About 2 hours after my first treatment, I started feeling nerve pain near my armpit and it also felt like someone was continuously shocking that area. I asked my Rad Onc about it and she said that although it’s not typical to have symptoms so soon, she has had a few women who have. I have also had a sore breast every few days. And was pretty tired a few days here and there. My skin turned red, like a sunburn, and now that I’ve been done with treatments for a few days, it has turned brown (like a tan) and started peeling and it is so itchy I can hardly stand it sometimes!! I have been putting the gel on that they gave me and it helps some. I am hoping the itching will go away soon! It’s making me a little nuts! lol
But not everyone has side effects, so hopefully you luck out!